Game of Thrones is not only one of the most popular fantasy epics in all of television history, but it also features some of the best written onscreen insults in all of TV.
Characters such as Cersei, Tyrion, and Bronn all deliver some of TV's most wickedly delightful shady insults, but Queen Cersei Lannister definitely takes the cake when it comes to her razor-sharp wit and burns of other characters.
Cersei's Disgust For Grandmaester Pycelle
Many fans hated Cersei and many loved to hate her. Everyone who loves Cersei however, pretty much hates Pycelle. In season four, episode one, Cersei, replying to Jaime, with regards to Pycelle states: "You think I’d let that old lech put his hands on me? He smells like a dead cat."
Cersei Insults Robert's Masculinity
From the moment we're introduced to the relationship between Queen Cersei and King Robert Baratheon in season one, it's crystal clear that the queen has an obvious dislike for her king. In one of her many insults flung at King Baratheon, she attacks his masculinity by saying: "He’s attacked one of my brothers and abducted the other. I should wear the armor…and you the gown."
Cersei's Unrelenting Hatred Towards Tyrion
Cersei has never been shy to voice her disdain towards her brother Tyrion. From as early as their childhoods, Cersei and Jaime were inseparable, yet her love for Tyrion is almost non-existent. It's perhaps their father's hatred for Tyrion which trickled down to Cersei.
When Tyrion was born, complications in his birth led to their mother's untimely passing. Tyrion is aware of his sister's blatantly obvious dislike of him and often meets her insults with his unmatched wit. However, in season two, episode two, Cersei delivers one of her harshest burns by saying: "You’ve always been funny. But none of your jokes will ever match the first one, will they? You remember, back when you ripped my mother open on your way out of her and she bled to death. Mother gone, for the sake of you. There’s no bigger joke in the world than that."
Cersei Reveals The Truth To Tywin
From episode one of Game of Thrones, audiences are aware of the incestuous relationship between Jaime and Cersei Lannister, while many other characters know the rumors, not many (besides Varys) know whether the two are indeed embroiled in their taboo relationship. In season four's finale, Cersei makes it quite clear to her father, in a final attempt to voice her hatred towards her father when she tells him: "How can someone so consumed by the idea of his family not have any conception of what his actual family has been doing. Everything is true about Jaime and me. Your legacy is a lie."
Nobody Cares What Your Father Once Told You
From the get-go, it's clear that Cersei is the type of Queen who hates being told what to do. When the time comes for her to wed once again, on her father's command to Ser Loras Tyrell, the Queen regent is obviously displeased.
Loras on the other hand prefers the company of men, and Cersei knows this, so why should she have any desire to enter into yet another loveless marriage? Loras, in an attempt to extend the olive branch with regards to both of their predicaments, attempts to reach out to her striking up a conversation with "My father once told me—", but is quickly shut down when Cersei says: "Nobody cares what your father once told you."
Another mic drop moment from the Queen.
Cersei Burns Jaime In The Meanest Fashion
After Tyrion murders his father with a crossbow, it doesn't take Cersei too long to figure out that her twin brother, Jaime freed him. In perhaps what may be her most vicious burn towards her lover and brother she utters: “Tyrion may be a monster, but at least he killed our father on purpose. You killed him by mistake with stupidity.”
Cersei On Genitalia
In yet another dialogue-driven battle of wits between Cersei and Tyrion, Cersei uses her impeccable logic to denote the fact that women are more dangerous due to their genitals then that of men. Much like Varys, she too should be considered to be very dangerous: “Do you know why Varys is so dangerous…because he doesn’t have a c**k”
Cersei On Sisterhood With Margery Tyrell
While this quote is more of a straight-up threat than throwing shade, it has to be on this list. Season three, episode eight, "Second Sons", featured a scene in which Cersei Lannister and Margaery Tyrell were walking around the Sept of Baelor discussing their upcoming marriages to Loras Tyrell and Joffrey respectively.
When Margaery intentionally pokes the lion by saying; "We're going to be sisters soon, we should be friends.", Cersei responds by explaining the meaning of the song "The Rains Of Castamere" before saying: "If you ever call me sister again, I'll have you strangled in your sleep."
Cersei Really Dislikes Pycelle
Poor Pycelle. The old grandmaester really did not know when to make himself disappear during Cersei's rants. During season four's second episode, Pycelle stupidly challenges the Queen as to her newfound love for her new favorite maester, Qyburn. Cersei shuts him down brutally by saying: "You annoy me right now. Every breath you draw in my presence annoys me. So, here's what I want you to do: I want you to leave my presence."
Cersei On Margaery's Beauty
During episode three of season five, "High Sparrow”, Cersei in what appears to be a tender moment at first, with her son Tommen, who is betrothed to Margaery Tyrell, almost innocently questions her youngest child about the Tyrell princess. Almost. We quickly realized that Cersei wouldn't miss the opportunity to throw shade about her enemies, even when it's to her son when she asks him: “She’s certainly very pretty, isn’t she? Like a doll. She smiles quite a lot. Do you think she’s intelligent? I can’t quite tell, not that it matters.”